I think most Women’s Watches Suck — Let’s Fix Them
Growing up, my mother was always trying to convince me to wear a watch. Due to my at the time undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, I’d inherited her so called “time-blindness” which resulted in me frequently missing appointments, among other things, that caused her to be so insistent about me wearing one. There was always one problem with her suggestion — I either hated how the watch felt on me or I’d always forget to wear it. So for years I went without, using my phone as I replacement and never thought that watches would become my thing.
That was until I met my watch obsessed boyfriend @coaxial_thamuel who was determined to find me a watch that I would not only wear, but like and enjoy as much as he loves his.
We started out by watching Watchfinder videos together, but as much as he showed me videos of popular women’s watches like Rolexes and Tudors, I just never found any that really matched what I was looking for. As a woman in engineering, specifically construction, I wanted something that was robust, capable, and easily readable which just doesn’t usually fit within the bounds of the over the top, full of diamonds and gold style that most women’s watches cater to. It was easy just to brush it off, thinking that again the idea of me having a watch was a quest that could never be completed. That was until I saw the Watchfinder video on the Omega Ploprof — the huge, over-engineered monstrosity with its white rubber strap and huge hands that I knew no matter how much construction dust or extreme environmental conditions got to it, it’d still be able to give me the time from a quick glance. I had the opportunity to try it on at our local Omega store soon after we watched the video together, but my objectively tiny wrists and its price tag that’s well outside our college student budget again shelved my dream, but it was this moment of finding a watch that I connected with emotionally that initially started me on my watch journey.
@coaxial_thamuel shortly after gifted me my first real, proper automatic — an Invicta Prodiver which I promptly wore to work the next day because I was so excited. As much as I loved the look of it, however, it was really heavy on my wrist and I found myself having to take it off when I was typing. Taking it off meant that sometimes I would forget to put it back on until the next day, and since it was an automatic, I’d then have to reset it. Proving itself to be non-exactly what I was looking for, we were both again on the hunt to find me my perfect watch. Eventually, he found my at the moment holy grail — a CASIO AE1200 which with its digital display, date, and timer function made it easy to use day-to-day and with its lightweight construction made it nearly forgettable on my wrist.
My current dream watch is the NOMOS Tetra Azure, which with its 40.5mm lug-to-lug and 29.5mm dial would comfortably fit on my wrist. But even though it fits what I long for in size, it lacks features that shouldn’t be limited by size that are readily available in their other watches, such as lume. Why is lume readily available on larger sizes of watches, but completely neglected in their smaller sizes to the extent that not a single watch in their “small” category has any?
What my whole argument boils down to is that I want a watch that has the tools that are available in a standard men’s watch, but in a size that’s more accessible to my smaller wrist size. I don’t want to have to choose between having a watch that has the tools that I want to be able to perform when I’m out in the field or a watch that fits my wrist comfortably.
The Swiss watch companies currently primarily cater to a certain type of look that was the woman’s fantasy in the last century, of that of glitz and elegance, but as more women like myself venture into the workplace and need tool watches to help them, that gap has yet to really be filled with extensive options like the men’s options. I would give just short of my left leg to have a Milgauss or Navitimer in my size, but that just doesn’t exist at the moment, either constrained by technological limitations (due to movement or complication size) or lack of demand.
Until the day comes that I find my perfect hybrid of small and functional (or if any of y’all have any suggestions please feel to drop them in the comments), this newly converted watch enthusiast will continue to wear her Casio that @coaxial_thamuel engraved the back of to truly make mine.
She takes care of me when I'm sick and never catches a cold, but I watch one freaking YouTube video in front of her and she's ready to "give just short of [her] left leg"... The sickness is real man. Beautiful first post honey. It's an honor to read what you have to say.
i face this issues too! i’ve been wanting to buy a watch for the wifey. But every watch i show her was too “manly” for her delicate small wrist🤣 or she didnt like how ”womanly” the female selection was. And it really got me thinking why does female watch needs to be so feminist and shiny. Why can’t they just make a watches in smaller sizes for delicate wrist🙂
If you like divers, perhaps take a look at this Citizen Promaster in 33.5mm: https://www.mastersintime.com/us/en/citizen-promaster-sea-eco-drive-20-atm-ladies-diving-watch-ep6051-14l.htm
I have never seen this watch in the metal but I do have the men‘s version and can vouch that it’s bullet proof. It’s a quartz movement so it will be a little lighter than an automatic and the strap will also result in some weight savings vs. a bracelet. It’s also an Eco-Drive (solar) so you never have to worry about winding or replacing the battery.
I’d recommend:
I like the brown personally but come in variety of color combos. no history with watch myself but it’s from fairly reputable Swiss manufacture. Unfortunately looks like its currently out of stock here.
The integrated bracelet makes this one where even smaller is my bet. Again never worn one personally but reviews for the Aquis always seem positive.
Let me summarize my thoughts:
a) I think women's dress watches still have a place, but they are just that: dress watches.
b) The Invicta Pro Diver has a good chunk of its weight in the bracelet. A silicone strap might have made a difference.
c) Hard to argue with a Casio AE1200. (I feel a little nostalgic already.)
d) I know at least two women who wear watches with very traditional dial designs (think Longines Masters Series, etc.) that didn't appear quite as manly. But if lume is one of your main requirements, you won't find it there. If fact, your life would be easy if you liked classic dials. For example, the Sinn 1736 has an excellent readability, a 36mm case size, but no lume, just like most of those classic watch designs.
e) Thinking of Longines, I think their Conquest non-divers are available in 39mm.
It seems like the trend in watches going towards smaller cases. Hopefully a robust watch that meets your needs in a smaller size comes around soon!
Most of my 33-36mm watches are vintage so it might not be good for your work.
If you're not so much into the branding, there's a W10 homage watch that's 35mm on Aliexpress which has a Seiko NH35 (newer models have the no-date NH38 movement) with 100m water resistance (screw down crown). It's a great size! Here's a photo on my 6.25" wrist (the bund strap, i bought from strapsco).
I’d recommend:
I like the brown personally but come in variety of color combos. no history with watch myself but it’s from fairly reputable Swiss manufacture. Unfortunately looks like its currently out of stock here.
The integrated bracelet makes this one where even smaller is my bet. Again never worn one personally but reviews for the Aquis always seem positive.
Long Island Watches has a pretty good selection of 38mm “Islander” watches: https://longislandwatch.com/islander-watches/#/filter:case_diameter:38
The Islanders originally started out as Seiko SKX homages but quickly branched out to different styles. At this point I would say that they’re competitive with, and compare favorably against, Seiko 5s.
34mm. Lots o' lume. 150M water resistance. METAS certified. Co-axial. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Got this for my sister. She loves it. She says that you can see the lume glowing even in the daylight.
Only issue is that it's probably not affordable on a college student's budget. :)
As a fellow lady who loves the more masculine style of watch, I feel your pain. I recently fell in love with the squale galeazzi. It gets a fair bit of flack in online reviews, and people's main complaint? It's too big 😬... and this is coming from grown men with chunky wrists. I decided I was going to take the risk anyway, as I just adored it, and .... actually.... I think it looks pretty nice! 49mm lug to lug and 16mm thick. He's not a small boy, but I think I pull it off. I guess the moral of the story for me is to actually try the watches on before I decide it can't be right, and don't depend too heavily on reviews. I hope you find the watch you're after Katie 👍
I like what Oris and Longines have to offer. The Upcycle in 36 mm is absolutely great. The Legend Diver from Longines is perfect as well. Just a bit pricey.
@coaxial_katie,
I have approximately 5.75" / 14.5cm wrists. I'm not sure how that compares to your wrist size, but if you're wearing a Casio AE-1200 with a 45mm lug-to-lug, then you're probably close.
You asked, "Why is lume readily available on larger sizes of watches, but completely neglected in their smaller sizes to the extent that not a single watch in their “small” category has any?" In general, dress watches tend to be smaller and slimmer than sport watches (diver, pilot, field, racing, chronograph). Sport watches, however, are the only ones that tend to have lume. Based on its appearance, I think the Nomos Tetra Azure is a dress watch.
Based on the size of your Casio (42mm x 45mm, ~50g for the resin model), you might want to look at a Vostok Komandirskie (39mm x 45mm). I just weighed my Komandirskie (it's currently on a canvas strap), and it weighed 64g. If you want a metallic look for your watch, there are some fine mesh straps that are rather lightweight. The classic Komandierskies are the models starting with 21, 43, 53, 81, or 92. There are a wide range of faces available, and they will accept any of the "universal" Amphibia bezels. They're 18mm lug width, so 3rd party straps are easy to obtain. Mine is easy to customize with minimal effort.
If you want/need a waterproof watch, several model lines of Vostok Amphibia have a 46mm lug-to-lug: 100, 120, 150, 420, or 710. Someone reported that their Amphibia weighed 69g on a silicone strap (I'm not sure which model), so it's still in the same weight range. (My 710 model is currently on a steel bracelet, so it weighs 123g.) Of the models I listed, some have smaller case sizes (and may weigh less). Some have smaller lug width (and their straps may weigh less). Those are things you might want to look into before buying one.
@Mrbudgetwatch posted a video recommending the Phoibos Voyager V2 as the best affordable dive watch for slim wrists. You might want to look at that watch also.
I fully agree. I'm a male with smaller wrists and trying to find nice, usable watches that fit properly is nigh on impossible. I went through the Omega catalogue and the womens category is just butterflies and rose gold, instead of a smaller railmaster or seamaster, which I, and you, judging by your post, are looking for. Why does gender branding even exist in the watch world? Let the style and size determine who wears them I think
I fully agree. I'm a male with smaller wrists and trying to find nice, usable watches that fit properly is nigh on impossible. I went through the Omega catalogue and the womens category is just butterflies and rose gold, instead of a smaller railmaster or seamaster, which I, and you, judging by your post, are looking for. Why does gender branding even exist in the watch world? Let the style and size determine who wears them I think
Have you looked at the Speedmaster 38s? There’s one that looks to be the successor to the Speedy Reduced: https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-speedmaster-38-co-axial-chronometer-chronograph-38-mm-32430385001001
Have you looked at the Speedmaster 38s? There’s one that looks to be the successor to the Speedy Reduced: https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-speedmaster-38-co-axial-chronometer-chronograph-38-mm-32430385001001
I thank you for this post and bringing this model to my attention, my wallet does not lol
I thank you for this post and bringing this model to my attention, my wallet does not lol
You‘re welcome. I do what I can to help spread the pain of this horrible addiction. 😉
Regarding the Tetra Azure, Feice does an homage of that, at a more affordable price range obviously. But still no lume as far as I can tell.
On the more luminous side, there is this Baltany (approx £120) on AliExpress, 36mm diameter, 43mm lug-to-lug. 78g might be a bit on the heavy side for you though. This even has a youtube review.
If you don't mind quartz the Lorus lumibrite (or even better, the Alba if you can find it - both are affordable Seiko subbrands) is a great watch, and I think the Alba version is also titanium, making it very light.
I have to admit that is quite true, and for that i dont blame my wife sporting (more like sniffing and sneaking) some of my smaller watches and wear them, i usually found out when i noticed unfamiliar nicks and dings here and there.... 🤦🏻♂️